Security Service Edge (SSE): The Ultimate Guide to Enhancing Data Protectio

Mobile devices, remote access, cloud-based applications — the security perimeter as we once knew it has disappeared. The proliferation of cloud-native infrastructure has given organizations and their employees more immediate access to their work than ever before. 

But this convenience cannot come at the cost of security, as malicious actors look for new ways to exploit an ever-increasing number of access points. You need a solution that can help you manage this complexity; you need security service edge (SSE). 

Here, we’ll explore what security service edge is and how it provides a single point of entry for a number of critical integrations that can help you monitor and secure your entire infrastructure.

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What is security service edge, and why is it important?

Security service edge is a cloud security framework designed to protect an organization’s users, customers, and data from cyber threats. Typically, SSE manifests as a platform that integrates several critical security tools, including identity and access management, threat detection, data security and encryption, and more. 

As organizations spread out essential infrastructural components across multiple cloud-based apps, traditional perimeter-based security solutions are no longer enough to prevent unauthorized access. Threat actors rely on the decentralized nature of modern cloud architecture and the sheer number of potential access points to poke holes until they gain a foothold. A single misconfiguration or successful phishing attempt can be enough to push through into secured systems, exposing sensitive data and potentially causing further financial harm through ransomware attacks, fines, and legal fees.

Security service edge simplifies the deployment of essential security tools by creating a single pane of glass for monitoring and controlling your entire cloud-based infrastructure, helping reduce the risk of these breaches.

‍Learn more about the consequences of a successful cyber attack by reading What Is a Modern Breach and How Can They Be Prevented?

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How security service edge unlocks zero trust remote access solutions

SSE isn’t just a window into the health and security of your cloud-based infrastructure — it offers tools that can keep remote access points protected from unauthorized users. The following solutions are essential components of any secured network. Be sure to implement as many as possible to maximize your security stance.

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) remains one of the most ubiquitous methods of protecting remote access points from unauthorized access. While it’s not the silver bullet it once was, MFA still provides essential protection against automated bots and other targeted attacks. 
• The principle of least privilege is a crucial zero-trust strategy that your SSE platform can help you implement. By setting appropriate access policies at the top, you can limit employee access to the systems and information they need to do their job — and nothing else.
• User entity and behavior analytics (UEBA) allow you to determine whether the people who log into your network are who they say they are. These tools rely on machine learning algorithms to compare current behavior against typical user patterns to detect and flag suspicious activity. You can then lock down further access to secure systems as you continue to investigate.

Read 5 Zero Trust Remote Access Solutions Your IT Team Needs to Know to learn more about which zero trust solutions to implement with your SSE platform. 

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Protect against insider threats

Keeping your network secure against external threats is only one part of a holistic security strategy. Insider threats can also pose significant risks to data and infrastructure integrity, whether through a direct attack from a disgruntled employee or mere carelessness that exposes sensitive data to the public. 

The tactics that security service edge uses to detect harmful remote access and usage attempts can also be employed to analyze internal user behavior. UEBA tools combined with data loss prevention (DLP) features scan internal network usage, detecting late-night downloads or large file transfer volumes and flagging them for further investigation. SSE can also employ DLP and enterprise digital rights management (EDRM) systems to classify and encrypt sensitive data before and during download, reducing the risk of exposure due to malicious or accidental actions. 

Read Detect and Defend: 5 Tips for Guarding Against Insider Threats and Data Security Best Practices: 7 Tips to Crush Bad Actors to discover more strategies to keep your data secure.

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Manage shadow IT and avoid accidental data shares

Keeping track of internally managed tools and devices is relatively straightforward — keeping track of what your employees use is much more difficult. Shadow IT adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging security framework. Plus, your employees might not even know that the tools they rely on might accidentally expose sensitive information — like when the generative AI tool ChatGPT started revealing other users’ prompts and personally identifiable information after being told to repeat certain words.

SSE tools like cloud access security brokers (CASB) can help you reign in some of the shadow IT that your employees might rely on. CASB grants deeper visibility into the apps and tools your organization uses (authorized and otherwise) across its entire infrastructure and allows you to view their usage in real time. If you detect a security risk, you can apply your internal security policies to block access to these apps, further limiting the possibility of accidental data exposure.

Read Top Strategies for Preventing Accidental Data Shares in Real Time for more information.

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Develop and manage bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies

Security doesn’t stop at the devices you manage. Over two-thirds of employees use their own devices to access your organization’s network and essential files, whether or not you’ve implemented official BYOD policies. If you’re not protecting these devices as well, you’re potentially opening up your organization to a new vector for attack.

Regular knowledge training is critical to raise awareness of mobile device security best practices. However, you need to couple this strategy with tools that provide a window into how your employees access your infrastructure, regardless of their device. Enhanced SSE tools like mobile endpoint security provide visibility into both managed and unmanaged devices. Even if you don’t have complete control of the user’s device, you can still manage access to sensitive systems and detect suspicious behavior before it’s too late.

Discover more remote SSE strategies by reading Remote Access Security: 5 Best Practices for Remote Workers.

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Looking for an SSE solution? Lookout has the answer

Security service edge is an essential part of any organization’s attempt to bolster its ability to detect and respond to cyber threats — but not all solutions are built equally. If you’re in the market for a solution that will protect your entire cloud infrastructure, Lookout is here to help. Download the Lookout SSE Buyer’s Guide and discover which business-critical components are essential for securing your infrastructure against current and emerging threats.